Suiting

Bargain war-zone tailors

Im a U.S. Army captain deployed in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. There are many tailors here who will make me a custom suit for a small fraction of the price I would pay back home. Im thinking of getting a tuxedo, a blue suit, and a gray suit. Any tips I should keep in mind when having them made? And, ultimately, is this a good idea or not?

Im not going to venture my opinion on whether being in Afghanistan is a good idea, although I will say that when a gentleman finds himself in a place where skilled labor comes at a fraction of the cost, hes foolish not to take advantage of it. Im sure there are good tailors there. Im sure Mr. Hamid Karzai and other natty types have clothes made domestically. Material should be your main concern, and you should probably import your own (although this will obviously increase the amount you spend on your suit). Holland & Sherry are the most noted cloth merchants on Savile Row, and they claim to offer a diverse range of cloths that can be delivered anywhere in the world. Perhaps you are in a position to offer them a slight challenge on that claim. Id e-mail them about their sending you some swatches posthaste (enquiries@holland andsherry.co.uk). Specify that the black youre interested in is for a tuxedo. If you have a suit that you really like, you might let your tailor have it for a few days, just so hes familiar with what you expect.